REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Ri Kil-Song is visiting Indonesia from February 12 to 15, to strengthen ties and cooperation between Indonesia and North Korea, a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

While in Indonesia, Kil-Song will hold meetings with officials in the Indonesian Foreign Ministry and with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs AM Fachir.

Kil-Song and Fachir will discuss how bilateral relations can be improved, particularly through the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Kimilsungia flower in 2015.

Kimilsungia is an orchid variety, which symbolizes the friendship between Indonesia and North Korea, and was awarded by President Sukarno to President Kim Il Sung in 1965.

During the meeting, the two also discussed the importance of improving economic relations between the two countries, especially in the field of trade.

Indonesia and North Korea's trade volume amounted to US$ 62 million in 2012, but the volume has slipped during recent times.

During the January to October 2014 period, the volume of trade between the two countries was recorded at US$ 2.8 million, declining 82.24 percent from the year before.

Therefore, the Kil-Song's visit is expected to boost the volume of trade between Indonesia and North Korea.

The Indonesian government hopes that North Korea's leaders will be able to attend the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference that will be held in Jakarta and Bandung from April 22 to 24.

While in Jakarta, Kil-Song also visited the National Monument and the Fatahillah Jakarta Museum.

His visit is expected to facilitate bilateral relations between Indonesia and North Korea in the future.

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